We are here today to consider S. 1063, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act of 2005. Public safety has been a focus of the Committee and has been deliberately woven into the Commerce Committee’s agenda this year, especially in the context of communications. The Committee’s agenda has included numerous public safety-related hearings and critical pieces of legislation, including: 

The Tsunami bill, which establishes a Tsunami warning system. I commend our Co-Chairman, Senator Inouye for his leadership on this bill. 

The WARN Act, which establishes a comprehensive national alert system and on which Senator DeMint and Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska took the lead for us. 

The Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, which establishes a hard date of April 7, 2009 for the transition to digital television, provides critical spectrum (24 megahertz) to first responders, and includes funds for interoperability, national alert and E-911.

Today the Committee is addressing S. 1063 which is also important for public safety. The bill includes 3 main objectives: It provides authority and guidance to the FCC so that it can craft a comprehensive scheme to address 911 and E-911 services. It ensures that IP phone companies have access to E-911 components that may be controlled by competitors, which the FCC Order did not do. And, it provides the liability protection that everyone needs to be able to provide 911 service. Public safety needs this protection.

We were told that counsel for some of these Public Safety Answering Points were being told not to take calls from IP Voice service providers for fear of liability. Industry also needs this protection to be able to acquire needed capital and insurance in order to continue to bring this new and innovative service to consumers. I commend the lead sponsors Senator Burns and Senator Bill Nelson for their commitment to this bill and the FCC for its leadership on this issue.

In addition to S. 1063, the Committee will consider several nominations. Shana Dale has been nominated to be Deputy Administrator at NASA. She has a long history on space and science issues from her service at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the House Science Committee. Dr. Michael Griffin has called me several times in support of Ms. Dale, and he has asked us to move her nomination through the Senate as quickly as possible.

Mark Rosenker is the Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. He also serves as a Major General in the Air Force Reserve. Rosenker has been re-nominated to a five-year term which begins on January 1, 2006.

Kathryn Higgins is a real veteran of this town. She has held senior staff positions in both the Senate and the House, and was Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary for President Clinton. We also have six non-controversial officer promotions on the agenda.